Hey guys. Here's the first Life is Strange story I've written in a while. I've had this idea in my head for over a year. Only now have I actually pushed myself to turn it into a reality! Hope it's okay. ^^
Disclaimer: I don't own Life is Strange.
The sun was leaving Arcadia Bay in a dim golden light as it sunk beyond the horizon. Dark shadows were cast within the grounds of Blackwell Academy. Most students paid no attention to the dramatic scenery they were trudging wearily through. Having just finished a long hard day at school, they were eager to return to their dormitories to rest.
Yet one particular person was keen to capture their surroundings.
The instant camera in Max Caulfield's hands flashed before printing out the photograph she took. The young hipster gave it a shake to allow the image she had caught to be seen. She smiled when she saw how well the picture of herself in the twilight atmosphere came out. She would be sure to add it to her wall of photos when she made it to her room.
Pocketing the picture, Max began to head towards her accommodation. The eighteen-year old was exhausted after finishing all her classes for the day. She was looking forward to collapsing onto her bed and lose herself in sweet music from her stereo. There was only just enough energy left in the brunette to text message a certain blue-haired friend of hers about her day. There was no doubt Chloe Price would be filled with all the stamina she was lacking.
Max turned a corner and prepared to head towards the girls' dormitories - when she stopped dead in her tracks. Her blue eyes widened, shocked at the sight they were picking up.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here, Nathan?"
"It's the little mousey freak from the church, Vic!"
Standing with nasty, taunting smirks on their faces were Nathan Prescott and Victoria Chase. They were towering over someone sat on one of the benches of the dormitory. Upon seeing who it was, Max instantly ran in their direction. Knowing how vulnerable the person they were picking on was, she was determined to stand up for her.
Nothing was going to stand in Max Caulfield's way of protecting her friend, Kate Marsh.
"Please..." The quiet, blonde girl timidly begged her tormentors. "Leave me alone..."
"And what's gonna happen if we don't, Kate?" Nathan sneered. "Will your beloved God strike us down? I don't think so..."
At that moment, Nathan snatched something from Kate's hands. The shy, soft-spoken girl cried out as the arrogant boy held it out of her reach. At the same time, Victoria grabbed Kate's arms firmly to hold them tightly behind her back. From where she was running towards them, Max could see what the two bullies were stealing from her friend; it was a thick, black book - one which she knew was very important to the dedicated young Catholic.
"Hey, let me go!" Kate cried, unsuccessfully attempting to free her arms from Victoria so as to get the book off of Nathan. "That's my bible!"
"It is?!" Holding the holy book tauntingly in font of the religious girl, Nathan flipped through his pages. "There's something seriously wrong with your bible, Kate! It doesn't have any pictures of Hell!"
"You can fix that!" Victoria smirked. "Can't you, Nathan?"
"Indeed I can, Vic..."
Smiling in all his nasty manner at Kate, Nathan dove a hand into his pocket. He pulled out a lighter and held it beneath the bible, enjoying the look of horror that filled his victim's face.
"NOOO!" Kate cried, trying even harder to pull herself free of Victoria - with her efforts completely in vain. "DON'T DO IT! PLEASE, NATHAN!"
"But your bible is unfair! It has so many pictures of glorious heaven..." Nathan ignited the lighter. The single golden flame which flickered from it eflected in the boy's wide eyes full of insanity. "It's only fair your precious bible should have pictures of burning hell..."
Kate cried and struggled even harder against Victoria, who refused to release her grip on her. Tears ran down the Catholic girl's cheeks as her blue eyes watched with dismay as the elitist boy held his lighter underneath her bible. The flame licked at the sacred book, threatening to set it alright and burn it into cinders.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust!" Nathan announced mockingly, enjoying the torture he was callously putting the innocent girl through. "Let the cremation begin!"
"Hey! Hold it right there, assholes!"
The jeering smiles were instantly wiped off the two bullies' faces as they were taken aback by the sudden voice which yelled at them. Victoria released her hold on Kate as Nathan dropped the bible. It narrowly missed the flame beneath is as it landed on the ground. As the religious girl instantly dropped to her knees to pick up her precious book, her tormenters turned around to face who had stopped their agonizing.
"Look here, Nathan! It's the selfie master of Blackwell!"
"The fuck do you want, Caulfield?"
Max stood her ground, unfazed by the insulting and aggressive manners she was spoken to in. "I want the two of you to leave Kate alone!"
"Oh really?!" Victoria smirked with a raise of her eyebrow. "And what are you gonna do if we don't, Max? Report us to the principle like the little kid you are?"
"You better not have taken a fucking picture of us just now!" Nathan burst out angrily. "Or I'll smash that shitty camera of yours into your stupid hipster face!"
"I could've easily taken an instant pic of you two in the act and reported you..." Max paused to avert he gaze towards Kate, giving her a warm, assuring smile. "...but I'd rather step in and stand up for a friend who is in trouble."
A smile found its way onto Kate's own face. She directed it back towards Max, grateful for her selflessly coming to her aid.
"Oh pass me a bucket, someone!" Nathan groaned. "This sentimental shit is gonna make me puke!"
"C'mon, Nathan! It's no fun wasting our time with these losers! Let's go get high!"
Nodding agreeably with Victoria's idea, Nathan followed her away from the dormitories. Max and Kate were left all alone together. All was peaceful now that the two bullies had departed from the scene while two of the Blackwell's quietest students remained.
"Looking out for friends makes that pair sick, yet smoking weed doesn't?" Max shook her head in disgust. "I'll never understand those two - not that I would ever want to."
"Oh, Max..."
The brunette turned her attention to the blonde she had been protecting. Kate was standing in front of Max with her bible clutched to her chest. Her eyes were still shining as she gazed at her, although the tears had finally stopped.
"Are you alright?" Max asked, frowning in her concern for her friend.
"I am now!" Kate beamed as she gazed admiringly at her hero. "Thank you so much for coming to my rescue!"
"You don't have to thank me, Kate." Max looked down humbly. "That's what any decent person should have done."
"But a decent person is hard to come by in this school. Most people around here only think about themselves." Kate's gaze softened as her eyes sparkled in awe. "I'm so lucky there's at least one person around here who doesn't stand by and ignore people in trouble - and that person is Super Max!"
Max smiled modestly. What she had just been referred to was Chloe's special nickname for her. It felt nice to be called it by Kate as well. She was glad she had put an end to the torment the religious girl had been going through. With a heart as warm and kind as hers, Kate did not deserve to go through such horrible treatment. She was incredible precious to Max.
"Thank you again for saving me. I'm really grateful to have you in my life. You really are an Everyday Hero."
"It's okay. Whenever you need someone, I'll always be there for you..." Max paused, smiling at the girl she had come to the aid of - as she held up her camera. "My beloved Kate..."
Realising at once what her friend was preparing to do, Kate beamed brightly. She put her bible down on the bench to stand alongside Max. The blonde put her arm around the brunette's shoulders. Max did the same back with her free hand as she lifted her camera, pointing it at the pair of them.
There was a click and a flash, followed by a whir as the camera printed out the picture it had just taken. It took less than a minute for the image to come out clearly, revealing the moment it had just captured.
The photograph was yet another selfie of Max Caulfield - except in this one, she was joined by Kate Marsh. All the distress which the religious girl had been going through minutes ago had been erased. She was smiling in all her happiness to have her hipster classmate by her side. It was clear in the picture that Kate was extremely thankful to have Max present with her. She knew well in all her heart that she could always count on her hipster photographer friend to always be there for her.
Thank you for reading! Stay safe and well - and always remember to be there for your friends when they're going through a tough time! A little act of kindness from you can make a huge difference for them! ;)
Take care, guys!